Copying machine with traveling light source

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for photocopying patterns wherein the sensitized paper is moved into the exposure area in a continuous strip. The pattern to be copied is sandwiched above a flexible transparent base strip and below a flexible upper sheet. The sensitized paper is moved into the exposure areas beneath the base strip by the longitudinal traverse of a light carriage above the upper sheet. The return traverse of the light carriage over the upper sheet exposes the sensitized paper.

United States Patent [191 Hans Dec. 3, 1974 COPYING MACHINE WITHTRAVELING 3,644,041 2/1972 Haus 355/122 LIGHT SOURCE 3,652,158 3/1972Burgess 355/91 [76] inventor: Hans Hans, 6250 Limburg Lahn,

Hahlgartenweg, m y Primary ExaminerRichard L. Moses [22] Filed. July 261973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmNorman S. Blodgett; Gerry A. Blodgett [21]Appl. No.: 382,856

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 245,852,April 20, 1972, [57] ABSTRACT abandoned.

An apparatus and method for photo copying patterns [30] ForeignApphcatlon Pnomy Data wherein the sensitized paper is moved into theexpo- API'. 21, Germany ure area in a ontinuous trip The pattern to becopied is sandwiched above a flexible transparent base [52] US. Cl355/132, 108/23, 355/84, Strip and below a flexible upper h Thesensitized 355/122 paper is moved into the exposure areas beneath the[51] Int. Cl. G031) 27/02 base Strip by the longitudinal traverse of alight cap [58] held of Search 355/84 riage above the upper sheet. Thereturn traverse of the 355/120 .132; 108/233, 50 light carriage over theupper sheet exposes the sensitized paper. [56] References Cited 7 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 3,446,162 5/1969 Kranz108/23 This is a continution, of application Ser. No. 245,852 filed Apr.20, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art methods for producingcutting-room markers for the garment industry provide for the masterpatterns to be placed on the copying table between an upper sheet and abase sheet of transparent material. The two sheets are sealed at theedges and the air entrapped therebetween is removed by a special suctionmeans to ensure that said patterns are retained in interlockingrelationship. Then, the copy paper with its light-sensitive surfacefacing downwardly is placed on the upper transparent sheet and presseddown in the usual manner by a pressure plate or mat andis exposed frombelow through the transparent top of the copying table. An apparatusdisclosed in the German-Provisional U.S. Pat. 'No. 1,785,486 teachesanother method. The patterns are not placed on a base sheet but arepositioneddirectly on the transparent top of the copying table and asheet of mesh material is stretched over them. The patterns can then bebrought into the desired interlocking relationship under the meshmaterial with the'aid of a sharp tool. The copy paper web is advancedand exposed in the manner described above.

The second method obviates the use of two sheets of transparent materialand the expensive equipment required to allow the patterns to be movedinto position when under the pressure of the covering mesh. However,like the first method described, it has major drawbacks, such as theneed for exposure from below by a fixed or traversible light source andthe fact that means are required to apply pressure to the copy paper inoverlying relationship. Both these requirements impose limits on thewidth and, in particular, on the length of the web of copy paper thatcan be exposed. But in the garment industrys cutting rooms, where themarkers are used, the tendency is to install ever larger and heavierduty equipment, with the need for the pattern layouts to be as long andwide as possible, among other things to ensure optimum utilization ofmultiple set-ups of material.

A further disadvantage of said prior art apparatus and methods is thecomplicated construction needed to apply pressure to copy paper whenexposing a large area. Moreover, each time there is a change in thepattern layout the web of copy paper has to be cut off to permit thenext lay of patterns to be made on the marker table. These and otherdifficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviatedin a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide acopying apparatuswherein the size of the marker is not limited.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a copying apparatusthat allows the use of a continuous web of sensitized paper.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specificationand covered by the claims appended hereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method forphotocopying a configuration of patterns to produce markers employed ascutting guides in the garment industry,

whereby the patterns are placed in interlocking arrangement between abase sheet of transparent material and an upper sheet of transparent ormesh material,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, thecopying machine, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10,consists of a table 11 at one end of which is mounted an exposure device12. Also mounted on the table is a paper drawing device 13 and a stopbar 14. On the table lies checkered paper 15 and patterns 16. A cover 17is pro- .vided and a covering net 18 with its tightening roll. A

polyethylene foil 19 is provided, along with its tightening roll. Guidedisks 21 are associated with the tightening rolls which are carried by atightening device 22. A paper box 23 with a roll 25 of blueprint paperis mounted on the end of the table and a cutting rail 24. According tothe method of the present invention, a transparent base sheet consistingof a'polyethylene foil 19 is drawn from a roll to cover the table 11. Apattern layout is formed of the patterns 16 on the upper surface of thefoil 19 and is then covered with a transparent sheet of mesh or coveringnet 18 drawn from a roll. Final positioning of the patterns 16 can bedone through the net 18. A web of copy paper 25 is fed foward in astraight line between the bottom face of the base sheet placed on thecopying table and the plane surface of said table as it passes into theexposure position. The feeding of the copy paper 25 may be accomplishedby temporarily fixing the paper drawing device 13, which is attached tothe end of the copy paper to the exposure device 12 as the exposuredevice moves across the table. Exposure may take place during the returnmovement of the exposure device 12 after the copy paper has beenreleased. After exposure, the copy paper web is fed out of said exposureposition. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the copypaper web can be masked, even when in the exposure position, by placinga sheet of opaque material between the base sheet and the paper web.This opaque material covers the copy paper during the pattern layingoperation and after the lay has been completed it serves as anadjustable mask should, for instance, it be desired to use only part ofthe length of the copying table. In this case the portion of the copypaper web outside the exposure area is rewound on a pay-out roll and isadvanced again in readiness for the next exposure.

As has been stated, the layout of patterns can be completed before thecopy paper is advanced thereunder into the exposure position. Thisarrangement is preferable for most marking operations. To produce amaster marker longer than the maximum working length of the copyingtable, the invention provides for the first section of the patternlayout to be exposed,

after which the respective portion of the master marker usual patternlayout between the base and upper sheets) in which case the masterpattern and copy paper can be fed along the copying table insynchronism, if necessary for selective exposure or for the proworkinglength of the copyingtable.

I According to another embodiment of the invention, the underlying mator base sheet consists of two sheets of transparent or mesh materialplaced one upon the other, between which a web of patterned material isfed or placed. The patterns can then be laid out onthe upper of the twosaid sheets of transparent or mesh material in accordance with thedesign on the patterned material. This patterned material is removedprior to exposure, without disturbing the interlocking relationship ofthe patterns which are retained in position in the aforedescribed mannerwith a further overlying sheet of transparent or mesh material. The,patterned material can also be formed of a transparent material, in

which case it can remain in position during the exposure of the patternlayout.

The invention'can be employed to particular advantage in conjunctionwith a roll or roller-mounted carriage incorporating the light source.The leading end of the roll of sensitized copy paper can be attached tothis carriage by means of the paper drawing device 13, so that, afterexposure and, possibly,'development of a marker copy, the traversingmovement of the carriage causes another length of copy paper to be paidout by a dispensing means from-a paper box 23 and advanced between thebase sheet and copying table top, in the manner disclosed, into theexposure position.

The attachment of the copy paper to said carriage is effected by simplemeans. The leading end of the copy paper is wound round a thin, flatsection of iron or a paper drawing device 13, whose two ends extendbeyond the width of the paper web and are engaged in guide the two endsof iron section into engagement with the hooks.

When employing a roll-mounted light-source carriage whose rolls alsoserve as pressure rollers for the copy paper, or a carriageincorporating vertically displaceable pressure rollers, approach rampscan be installed beyond the outer edges of the paper web and the baseand overlying sheets on the table. The oncoming rolls of the carriagethen mount the ramps, thereby taking the weight of the carriage off thepaper web, the base, and the overlying sheets; It is then possible tomove the paper web, the base sheet, or the overlying material to adesired position on the table without the need for removing thelight-source carriage from the table. Said approach ramps can beadjustable over the practically unlimited working width.

4 length of the lay-marker table in the direction of or opposite to thedirection of travel, to permit the carriage to be brought into thedesired raised position. A piece of sheet metal is preferably installedbetween the two said approach ramps and. at the level of the table topto prevent the exposure of the portion of copy paper in the area betweenthe ramps. Such approach ramps with a sheet-metal mask can also beinstalled at both ends of the table to co-operate with meansfor lightproof take-up of the copy paper web and for tensioning the base andoverlying sheets.

The approach ramps together with said auxiliary means can also bemounted on a separate carriage that can be traversed towards and awayfrom the ends of the table, permitting the laying of patterns to proceedat several tables and for the light-source carriage to run on to theindividual tables as and when the layouts are readyforzexposure.

As already stated, the invention obviates the disadvantages of the priorart methods and apparatus because no costly air suction equipment isrequired and because exposureis effected from above. This, to-" ofauxiliary means disclosed by the invention the method can be performedwith prior art light source carriages. The advantages deriving therefromare, among other things, the obviation of special pressure plates forthe copy paper, unlimited working length and It is obvious that minorchanges may be made in the form and construction of the inventionwithout departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however,desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown anddescribed, but it is desired to include all such as properly come withinthe scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent l. A method of producingphotographic copies of a configuration of patterns disposed on a copyingtable, whereby the pattern pieces are first laid on a transparent basesheet on the plane surface of the lay-marker table'and secondly arecovered by an overlying second sheet of transparent mesh material andthirdly a web of copy paper passed between the base sheet and table isexposed by a light source traversing said configuration of patterns, v

characterized by the fact that prior to its exposure,,a

web of copy paper is advanced by the traversing of the light sourceacross the exposure position in a straight line between the bottom faceof the base sheet on the table and the plane surface of saidta ble, thatthe web is exposed to said pattern pieces by the return movement of saidlight source to its starting position, and that after exposure said copypaper web is moved out of said position.

2. A method as recited in claim 1,.

characterized by the fact that when the patterns are being laid, thelight-sensitive copy paper web in the exposure position is covered by anopaque sheet inserted between the base sheet and the paper web surface.

3. A method as recited in claim 2,

characterized by the fact that after the layout of the patterns iscompleted the opaque sheet serves as an adjustable mask to define theexposure area.

4. A method as recited in claim 3,

characterized by the fact that after the exposed portion of the copypaper web has been severed, the remaining portion of the web is used inthe next sequence of operations.

5. A method as recited in claim 1,

characterized by the fact that only after the layout of patterns hasbeen completed is the web of copy paper passed thereunder into theexposure position.

6. A method as recited in claim 1,

characterized by the fact that for the production of.

master markers longer than the maximum working length of the table, thefirst longitudinal section of a pattern layout copies on the mastermarker is moved from the exposure area and the second section of thepattern layout is brought into abutting end-to-end relationship and thesecond section of the master marker is exposed.

7. A method as recited in Claim 1,

characterized by the fact that for the production of master markerslonger than the working length of the lay-marker table, the mastermarker and copy paper web are moved forward selectively,- sectionbysection, in synchronism.

8. A method as recited in claim 1,

characterized by the fact that the transparent base sheet consists oftwo sheets of transparent material in between which a patterned web ofmaterial is placed, and the patterns are laid out on the upper of thetwo said sheets of transparent material in accordance with the patternon said web, after which the patterned web of material is removed priorto exposure.

9. A method as recited in claim 8,

characterized by the fact that the web of patterned material istransparent and is left in position during the photographic copying ofthe laid out patterns.

10. A method of producing photographic copies of a configuration ofpatterns disposed on a copying table, whereby the pattern pieces arefirst laid on a transparent base sheet on the plane surface of thelay-marker table and secondly are covered by an overlying second sheetof transparent mesh material and thirdly a web of copy paper passedbetween the base sheet and the table is exposed by a light sourcetraversing said configuration of patterns,

characterized by the fact that prior to its exposure, a

web of copy paper is advanced by the light source across the exposureposition in a straight line between the bottom face of the base sheetand the plane surface of said table, that the web is exposed to saidpattern pieces by the return movement of said light source to itsstarting position, and that after exposure said copy paper web is movedout of said position, the method employing a rollermounted light-sourcecarriage traversible over the table and a copy paper web dispensed froma payout roll and after exposure rewound on a take-up roll, the leadingend of the paper web being in each case attached to and pulled into theexposure position by the light-source carriage.

11. A method as recited in claim 10,

characterized by the fact that the leading end of the copy paper web iswound round a thin flat iron section the ends of which extend beyond thewidth of the paper web and engage in hooks provided therefore on thelight-source carriage.

* =l l l

1. A method of producing photographic copies of a configuration ofpatterns disposed on a copying table, whereby the pattern pieces arefirst laid on a transparent base sheet on the plane surface of thelay-marker table and secondly are covered by an overlying second sheetof transparent mesh material and thirdly a web of copy paper passedbetween the base sheet and table is exposed by a light source traversingsaid configuration of patterns, characterized by the fact that prior toits exposure, a web of copy paper is advanced by the traversing of thelight source across the exposure position in a straight line between thebottom face of the base sheet on the table and the plane surface of saidtable, that the web is exposed to said pattern pieces by the returnmovement of said light source to its starting position, and that afterexposure said copy paper web is moved out of said position.
 2. A methodas recited in claim 1, characterized by the fact that when the patternsare being laid, the light-sensitive copy paper web in the exposureposition is covered by an opaque sheet inserted between the base sheetand the paper web surface.
 3. A method as recited in claim 2,characterized by the fact that after the layout of the patterns iscompleted the opaque sheet serves as an adjustable mask to define theexposure area.
 4. A method as recited in claim 3, characterized by thefact that after the exposed portion of the copy paper web has beensevered, the remaining portion of the web is used in the next sequenceof operations.
 5. A method as recited in claim 1, characterized by thefact that only after the layout of patterns has been completed is theweb of copy paper passed thereunder into the exposure position.
 6. Amethod as recited in claim 1, characterized by the fact that for theproduction of master markers longer than the maximum working length ofthe table, the first longitudinal section of a pattern layout copies onthe master marker is moved from the exposure area and the second sectionof the pattern layout is brought into abutting end-to-end relationshipand the second section of the master marker is exposed.
 7. A method asrecited in claim 1, characterized by the fact that for the production ofmaster markers longer than the working length of the lay-marker table,the master marker and copy paper web are moved forward selectively,section by section, in synchronism.
 8. A method as recited in claim 1,characterized by the fact that the transparent base sheet consists oftwo sheets of transparent material in between which a patterned web ofmaterial is placed, and the patterns are laid out on the upper of thetwo said sheets of transparent matErial in accordance with the patternon said web, after which the patterned web of material is removed priorto exposure.
 9. A method as recited in claim 8, characterized by thefact that the web of patterned material is transparent and is left inposition during the photographic copying of the laid out patterns.
 10. Amethod of producing photographic copies of a configuration of patternsdisposed on a copying table, whereby the pattern pieces are first laidon a transparent base sheet on the plane surface of the lay-marker tableand secondly are covered by an overlying second sheet of transparentmesh material and thirdly a web of copy paper passed between the basesheet and the table is exposed by a light source traversing saidconfiguration of patterns, characterized by the fact that prior to itsexposure, a web of copy paper is advanced by the light source across theexposure position in a straight line between the bottom face of the basesheet and the plane surface of said table, that the web is exposed tosaid pattern pieces by the return movement of said light source to itsstarting position, and that after exposure said copy paper web is movedout of said position, the method employing a roller-mounted light-sourcecarriage traversible over the table and a copy paper web dispensed froma pay-out roll and after exposure rewound on a take-up roll, the leadingend of the paper web being in each case attached to and pulled into theexposure position by the light-source carriage.
 11. A method as recitedin claim 10, characterized by the fact that the leading end of the copypaper web is wound round a thin flat iron section the ends of whichextend beyond the width of the paper web and engage in hooks providedtherefore on the light-source carriage.